‘I’m not kidding’: Why Heath Ledger announced at the 2006 Oscars

Although time has finally given The Secret of Brokeback Mountain the recognition it deserves, you don’t have to go far to remember when the film was criticized for its blatant depiction of homosexuality in a context as conservative as the cowboys of the 60s American West, but the film’s stars Always took a stand in favor of the feature film, especially the late Heath Ledger.

Over the years, the words of Jake Gyllenhaal, his co-star and lover, have confirmed this: Heath Ledger He was particularly protective of the film, to the point that when the Oscars invited him to present the award in 2007, the actor turned down the offer because of a joke that denigrated the film in the first monologue he was able to read beforehand.

“I remember that year they wanted to do the opening for the Oscars and it was a bit of a joke. And Heath refused“, he explained Jake Gyllenhaal Another Man magazine in 2020.At the time I was like, “Oh, well…whatever.” I always said, “It’s just for fun.” And Heath said, “It’s not a joke to me, I don’t want to joke about it.”“

He continued: “That’s what I loved about Hit. He never joked. Someone wanted to make a joke about that story or something, they’d say, “No. This is a matter of love. That’s it, man. So no.“

the seriousness of Heath Ledger It was exceptional on this topic, especially in the face of criticism. Not only did Ang Lee’s film receive disproportionately negative reception, but homosexuality remained an important battle in the United States, which had yet to legalize same-sex marriage — and would not legalize it 10 years after the film, in 2015. and then. , the battle is not yet won, everywhere in the world, even today. At that time, during the press conference, the future interpreter of the Joker from The Dark Knight was also very direct in his response to a journalist who found the film “disgusting” and told him that it is a shame that he thinks so.

Despite this bitter taste at the 2007 Oscars, the previous year the film was a huge success at the prestigious ceremony, earning eight nominations and winning Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Score. For many, he should also have won the award for Best Actor, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor Heath Ledger and Jake GyllenhaalNominated accordingly, but also for Best Picture. In the end, it was the film Collision that won the prize, creating a surprise, an award that, according to its own director Paul Haggis, the film did not deserve.

The Secret of Brokeback Mountain is a must see on VOD.